Whether you’re planning a delicious turkey for a Sunday roast dinner, a spectacular Christmas feast or a traditional Thanksgiving meal, you might have come across ‘turkey crowns’ and ‘turkey butterflies’. However, most people don’t know the difference between these two cuts of meat. So, let’s get into it, what’s the difference between these two cuts of meat?
A turkey crown contains bones, while a turkey butterfly is completely boneless. This makes a turkey butterfly much easier to cook and serve! Aside from this, a turkey crown and a turkey butterfly are the same cut of meat. They are both the two breast sections of a turkey with the legs and wings removed.
Keep reading for a more in-depth comparison of these two cuts of meat.
Jump to section:
- Is a Turkey Crown and a Turkey Butterfly the Same Cut of Meat?
- What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Turkey Butterfly or Crown Over a Whole Turkey?
- How to Cook a Turkey Butterfly or Crown
- How to Choose Between a Turkey Butterfly and a Crown?
Is a Turkey Crown and a Turkey Butterfly the Same Cut of Meat?
A turkey butterfly is the same cut of meat as the crown, the only difference is that a turkey butterfly is boneless while the crown still has the bone in it. They are both the two breast sections of a turkey with the legs and wings removed.
What is a Turkey Crown?
A turkey crown is a whole turkey with the legs and wings removed, but with the bones still in. Many people choose a turkey crown over a whole turkey because they prefer white meat or have fewer guests to feed.
What is a Turkey Butterfly?
A turkey butterfly is very similar to a crown. It is a boneless turkey breast that has been strung together to create a joint that’s delicious to eat, quick to cook and simple to carve.
What Is the Difference Between a Turkey, a Turkey Crown and a Turkey Butterfly?
A turkey crown is a portion of a whole turkey and doesn’t have the legs and wings attached. A turkey butterfly is the same cut of meat but with the bones removed. A turkey usually refers to a whole bird.
Although a whole turkey is considered traditional, many people opt for a turkey butterfly or crown due to their ease of cooking and carving, combined with delicious flavour!
What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Turkey Butterfly or Crown Over a Whole Turkey?
There are many benefits to choosing a turkey butterfly or crown over a whole turkey:
- Cooking time. A turkey crown cooks quicker than a whole turkey because it doesn’t have wings or legs.
- Size. Turkey crowns can easily fit in most ovens and roasting tins.
- Ease of carving. It is much easier to carve and serve a turkey crown or butterfly, compared to a whole turkey. A turkey butterfly is especially easy to carve due to its lack of bones.
- Taste. If you or your guests prefer white meats, a turkey crown or butterfly is an ideal choice, as there is no dark meat.
- Smaller size. If you have a small family, a turkey butterfly or crown is usually smaller than a whole turkey, helping reduce waste.
- Centrepiece. A delicious crown or butterfly can make an impressive table centrepiece.
How to Cook a Turkey Butterfly or Crown?
A turkey butterfly or crown is made from entirely white breast meat. Because the wings and legs have been removed, these cuts of meat cook much more quickly than a whole turkey. Turkey butterflies cook slightly quicker than crowns because they have already been deboned.
Turkey crowns or butterflies should be cooked at 190°C (170°C fan). If the meat weighs less than 4 kg, it will need 70 minutes of cooking time, plus an extra 20 minutes per kg. If the meat weighs more than 4 kg, it will need 90 minutes of cooking time, plus an extra 20 minutes per kg.
You should test that your turkey is fully cooked by pushing a skewer into the thickest part of the meat. It’s fully cooked if the juices run clear. Alternatively, you can use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature is at least 75°C. If it’s not fully cooked, you can return it to the oven for another 15 minutes.
If you’re looking for a mouthwatering recipe for a turkey butterfly joint, check out our Smoked Turkey Recipe. It uses a simple wet brine to make sure that your turkey is as moist as possible and guarantees your guests will compliment your cooking skills, whatever the occasion!
Or if you’re cooking for Christmas, have a look at our ‘Festive Turkey Butterfly Recipe’. It’s the perfect centrepiece for pot-roasted vegetables, spout tops and cranberry & mulled wine sauce!
How to Choose Between a Turkey Butterfly and a Crown?
If you’re struggling to decide between a turkey butterfly and a crown, here are a couple of things to consider:
- Do you want a bone-in joint? A turkey crown contains bones, making the meat juicy and tender, but makes it much harder to carve.
- Do you want a joint that’s easy to serve and carve? Because a butterfly is completely boneless, it makes carving it a breeze!
- Do you want a cut of meat that cooks quickly and evenly? Both turkey butterflies and crowns cook much quicker than a whole turkey, but a butterfly cooks slightly more quickly than a crown due to the lack of bones. This also guarantees a delicious and evenly cooked turkey skin!
Delicious Turkey Butterflies From Tom Hixson
Our mouthwatering turkey butterfly is the perfect choice for a traditional roast dinner or any special occasion. Choosing a butterfly joint means you get to enjoy the same delicious flavour as a whole turkey, without the lengthy cooking time and hassle of carving and deboning!
This skin-on turkey butterfly is guaranteed to make a stunning centrepiece to any celebration. The flavours and moistness of the bird are sealed into the bird, so you can be sure your dinner guests will be reaching for a second plate.
If you’re looking for something different for your next roast dinner, check out our range of poultry, beef, pork and lamb.
